Jobs Vacancies at HSRC

Job Advert Summary    

In delivering ‘social science that makes a difference’, the Research Divisions, Units, Institutes and Centres of the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) undertake policy-oriented research from its offices in Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban, and Pietermaritzburg. Our public purpose mandate is set out in the Human Sciences Research Council Act of 2008.

The Equitable Education and Economies (EEE) division undertakes research to transform educational outcomes and increase economic participation. It recognises that education and the economy have long been linked and conducts research to understand educational performance and improve learning outcomes, and to interrogate social, spatial and structural obstacles to economic participation.

EEE has a large and vibrant research programme with over 60 experienced and emerging researchers working on methodological and transformative research. Current research in EEE includes young people and the future of work; undoing spatial divides in access to education and economies; the impact of digitalisation on education and the economy; the innovation needed to ensure wider participation in the economy and allow for greater services and support for food security; the role of the informal sector in generating livelihoods, land, housing and economic development; and the transformation of higher education including a wider role for Technical Vocational Education and Training colleges (TVETs). We are particularly keen to attract new team members in the areas of future of work, digitalisation, innovation, informality and TVETs.

The EEE Research Division currently has a number of research vacancies available. They are currently seeking to appoint two (2) suitably qualified Research Director’s. These are permanent positions, and the successful incumbents can be based in any one of the HSRC’s office’s, namely Cape Town, Durban, or Pretoria.

Research Director (2 Positions)

• Ref. No: EEE-Dir 08/23

Minimum Requirements    

• A PhD in Education, Economics, Sociology or in a related social sciences and humanities field;
• At least eight (8) years of research and management experience, preferably in a research institution or a university;
• Excellent writing skills in drafting briefing papers, reports, and academic publications for wider public dissemination of research findings;
• At least 20 peer-reviewed publications* (books, books chapters, journal articles), of which several must be international, and several must be first or sole authored;
• Relevant quantitative and or qualitative research experience;
• Extensive experience in securing funding for research;
• Good research project management experience and the ability and enthusiasm to lead research teams in a large multidisciplinary research division;
• Intellectual leadership in a specified area, personal integrity, imagination and drive; and
• Skills in managing, mentoring and training team members.

Duties & Responsibilities    

• Identify key research areas in support of national, African and global South development agendas;
• Formulate targeted research proposals and secure funding on a sustainable basis to enable policy relevant, strategic research projects;
• Implement and manage high quality, large scale, long-term research studies with a focus on social impact;
• Deliver high-quality results and reports to budget and deadline;
• Stimulate public debate, civil society engagement, and develop communities of practice to ensure uptake of evidence to transform educational and economic outcomes;
• Produce high quality knowledge outputs through publishing in accredited refereed journals, books, and book chapters and with collaborators on the African continent;
• Ensure research impact through government and stakeholder engagement, policy briefs and research reviews;
• Communicate research findings across multiple media platforms and at academic conferences and forums; and
• Develop research skills and competencies through formal and informal training for self and others.

go to method of application »

Minimum Requirements    

• A PhD in Education, Economics, Sociology or in a related social sciences and humanities field (In exceptional cases, where applicants have extensive research experience and specialist skills, a Master’s degree may be considered);
• Between two and four years of research and management experience, preferably in a research institution or a university;
• At least seven (7) peer reviewed publications* (books, books chapters, journal articles), some of which should be sole or first authored;
• Excellent writing skills for drafting briefing papers, reports, academic publications and for wider public dissemination of research findings;

Relevant quantitative and or qualitative research experience;

• Experience of securing funding for research (will be an advantage), or willingness to learn to do so;
• Research project management experience;
• Intellectual and personal integrity, imagination and drive;
• Enthusiasm to manage, mentor and train junior researchers; and
• Ability to work in a team on multidisciplinary research projects and to grow into a leadership role.

Duties & Responsibilities    

• Identify key research areas in support of national, African and global South development agendas;
• Formulate targeted research proposals and secure funding on a sustainable basis to enable policy relevant, strategic research projects;
• Implement and manage high quality, large scale, long-term research studies with a focus on social impact;
• Deliver high-quality results and reports to budget and deadline;
• Stimulate public debate, civil society engagement, and develop communities of practice to ensure uptake of evidence to transform educational and economic outcomes;
• Produce high quality knowledge outputs through publishing in accredited refereed journals, books, and book chapters and with collaborators on the African continent;
• Ensure research impact through government and stakeholder engagement, policy briefs and research reviews;
• Communicate research findings across multiple media platforms and at academic conferences and forums; and
• Develop research skills and competencies through formal and informal training for self and others.

go to method of application »

Minimum Requirements    

• A PhD in Education, Economics, Sociology or in a related social sciences and humanities field. (In exceptional cases, where applicants have extensive research experience and specialist skills, a Master’s degree may be considered)
• At least six (6) years of research and management experience, preferably in a research institution or a university;
• Excellent writing skills in drafting briefing papers, reports, and academic publications for wider public dissemination of research findings;
• At least 12 peer-reviewed publications* (books, books chapters, journal articles), of which several must be international, and several must be first or sole authored;
• Relevant quantitative and or qualitative research experience;
• Extensive experience in securing funding for research;
• Good research project management experience and the ability and enthusiasm to lead research teams in a large multidisciplinary research division;
• Intellectual leadership in a specified area, personal integrity, imagination and drive; and
• Skills in managing, mentoring and training team members.

Duties & Responsibilities    

• Identify key research areas in support of national, African and global South development agendas;
• Formulate targeted research proposals and secure funding on a sustainable basis to enable policy relevant, strategic research projects;
• Implement and manage high quality, large scale, long-term research studies with a focus on social impact;
• Deliver high-quality results and reports to budget and deadline;
• Stimulate public debate, civil society engagement, and develop communities of practice to ensure uptake of evidence to transform educational and economic outcomes;
• Produce high quality knowledge outputs through publishing in accredited refereed journals, books, and book chapters and with collaborators on the African continent;
• Ensure research impact through government and stakeholder engagement, policy briefs and research reviews;
• Communicate research findings across multiple media platforms and at academic conferences and forums; and
• Develop research skills and competencies through formal and informal training for self and others.

go to method of application »

Minimum Requirements    

• A PhD in Education, Economics, Sociology or in a related social sciences and humanities field. (In exceptional cases, where applicants have extensive research experience and specialist skills, a Master’s degree may be considered)
• Some research and management experience, preferably in a research institution or a university;
• At least three (3) peer reviewed publications* (books, books chapters, journal articles), most of which should be sole or first authored;
• Excellent writing skills for drafting briefing papers, reports, academic publications and for wider public dissemination of research findings;
• Relevant quantitative and or qualitative research experience;
• Willingness to learn how to secure funding for research
• Research project management experience;
• Intellectual and personal integrity, imagination and drive;
• Enthusiasm to manage, mentor and train junior researchers; and
• Ability to work in a team on multidisciplinary research projects and to grow into leadership roles.

Duties & Responsibilities    

• Identify key research areas in support of national, African and global South development agendas;
• Formulate targeted research proposals and secure funding on a sustainable basis to enable policy relevant, strategic research projects;
• Implement and manage high quality, large scale, long-term research studies with a focus on social impact;
• Deliver high-quality results and reports to budget and deadline;
• Stimulate public debate, civil society engagement, and develop communities of practice to ensure uptake of evidence to transform educational and economic outcomes;
• Produce high quality knowledge outputs through publishing in accredited refereed journals, books, and book chapters and with collaborators on the African continent;
• Ensure research impact through government and stakeholder engagement, policy briefs and research reviews;
• Communicate research findings across multiple media platforms and at academic conferences and forums; and
• Develop research skills and competencies through formal and informal training for self and others.

go to method of application »

Job Advert Summary    

• The Science in Society unit of the Impact Centre seeks to appoint a Senior Research Specialist on a permanent contract. The candidate should be an accomplished researcher, with experience in in the one or more areas of research into science in society, including research impact, science communication, the public understanding of science, and innovation systems. Expertise in the area of engaged research would be advantageous, particularly with regards to participative methodologies, and engagement between researchers, communities, and stakeholders.

Minimum Requirements    
Key Requirements:

• A doctorate in the social sciences
• 7 years’ experience as a senior academic
• Experience with applied research and policy analysis
• Experience in one of the following research or practice areas of the Impact Centre: engaged research, research impact, science communication, the public understanding of science, innovation systems and evidence-informed policy and practice
• At least 10 publications, some sole/first-authored, at least one international
• Some fundraising experience  
• Intellectual and personal integrity, imagination, and drive.
• A strong user orientation, based on a commitment to social research that makes a difference.
• The ability and enthusiasm to lead research and practice teams involved in large-scale multidisciplinary projects, to manage team members, and to mentor and train junior researchers; and
• The versatility to apply quantitative and qualitative methodologies to challenging subject matter across disciplinary boundaries.

Duties & Responsibilities    
Key Responsibilities:

• Design, manage and implement research projects in the Impact Centre  
• Support and coordinate teams across the HSRC in long-term research projects
• Build and support scholarship and a community of practice around engaged research
• Advise and mentor HSRC colleagues on engaged research methodologies and approaches
• Deliver high-quality results and reports within budget and deadline.
• Communicate research findings and publish in peer reviewed journals.
• Supervise and mentor junior researchers.